I have been a "lurker" on this forum for a long time.

I have been gardening for many years. Last year when we removed two large overgrown blue spruce trees from the front yard I decided to move my garden to the front. What an experience! I discovered my neighborhood in a whole new way. It has been a lot of fun.

I used to try to start seed indoors because of our cold climate. We had florescent lights under the cabinets in the kitchen and over tables in the basement. It was inconvenient and in the way and it drove my DH nuts. It was a lot of work tending those "babies" taking them outside to harden them off and then bringing them in again when frost threatened, etc. And the success rate really wasn't all that great in the end.

Then I discovered this forum a couple of years ago and decided to give it a try in a small way. It worked! Now I have winter sowed for a couple of years and I continue to be amazed at the results in our COLD climate. It's so much fun to experiment with new things. I grow herbs, salad greens and many flowers, both annual and perennial. I've learned a lot from all the postings on this forum and I am grateful. Many thanks.

Last year I also planted two raised bed gardens at the nursing home where my mother-in-law is a resident. It was wonderful to see residents and their families enjoying spending time together looking at all the flowers.

Oh! . . . Beginning April 12th I found little green sprouts in many of wintersown containers. It never fails to give me a thrill.